iStockphoto / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Brian Kelly was asked about LSU’s future under football coach Lane Kiffin. He provided a backhanded compliment to the school while implying he was handcuffed in recruiting efforts.
Kiffin, of course, replaced the head coach following his midseason firing in 2025. Was Kelly given the tools to win with the Tigers?
There were reports of NIL constraints during his tenure with the program. He subtly called them out while praising his successor.
Brian Kelly talks LSU football.
The former LSU coach sat down with John Brice and Blake Toppmeyer on the Sports Seriously podcast to discuss the outlook of the program moving forward under Kiffin.
He believes the Tigers can win a national championship.
An investment has been made. Kiffin’s been provided a foundation to build upon through NIL and recruiting avenues.
“Here’s why I would say yes,” Kelly said. “I think that they have invested in NIL for him. They have given him the opportunity…
“Lane’s a really smart football coach, and I believe because there is that investment in NIL, he’s going to be able to be Lane Kiffin. He’s not going to take the 18-year-old kid and develop him all the way through the ranks, and that’s fine because that’s what they wanted.
“With those things in place, he can win the national championship.”
Reading between the lines, it seemed a subtle insinuation of being handcuffed by LSU. He also threw a jab at Kiffin’s ability to develop young talent, or lack thereof.
The comments certainly came off salty, but does he have a point?
LSU has made an investment in Lane Kiffin.
Recent reports suggest the Tigers’ 2026 roster cost north of $40 million. That comes as a result of both donor buy-in and the NCAA’s new revenue share model.
The bump in budget helped Kiffin score a top-ranked recruiting class, headlined by a No. 1 rated transfer haul. LSU is ready to win now.
That may or may not have been the case under Kelly. While money was not lacking, the Tigers were outbid for major talent on multiple occasions.
That was never more evident than in the 2025 recruiting class. LSU lost out on Bryce Underwood, Jahkeem Stewart, and Kade Phillips. All boasted five-star abilities.
Underwood went to Michigan for a record-setting deal. USC reportedly offered Stewart nearly double what the Tigers were willing to pay. Phillips flipped at the last possible second after receiving a pay raise with Texas.
Brian Kelly opened up his Early Signing Period press conference by talking about the new NIL era.
Kelly said for some prospects, “It’s not just about finding the right fit … it’s about the most money I can get. That’s unfortunate, but it’s the world we live in.”
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) December 4, 2024
Kelly did his part, donating $1 million of his paycheck to NIL efforts. His outlook on recruiting, however, also played a role in his demise.
Kelly refused to “buy” players.
“We’re selling something a little bit different. We want to recruit, engage, build relationships, retain, and have success. We’re not in the market of buying players.”
-Brian Kelly
His process involved recruiting high school talent, prioritizing development over the transfer portal. It’s a plan that has become outdated in the NIL landscape.
Players have the opportunity each and every offseason to test the market. Many have no issue jumping to the highest bidder year after year. Signing players that are ready to compete immediately is more effective than relying on the commitment of a prospect that could leave at any time.
Brian Kelly consistently recruited Top 10 classes nationally. The number of transfers accepted decreased each season. LSU never signed more than 15 players in the portal under the former coach.
For reference, Lane Kiffin took 40 transfer pledges in Year 1, more than the 37 Kelly brought in across three seasons. He is not scared of buying proven talent, no matter the optics surrounding development. LSU is giving him the ability to do so through NIL.
Some of Kelly’s criticism may be warranted. There is no question that Kiffin has more money to spend than his predecessor. They way that money is spent, though, is also noteworthy.
Kelly was unable to win big recruiting high school players. Kiffin looks to secure a national title with a bevy of transfers.